Netflix Expands Its Lineup with ‘Lovesick’ Featuring Claire Danes, a New Romantic Drama from Sarah Treem and Universal TV

Netflix has secured another major project with a straight-to-series order for Lovesick, a romantic drama featuring Emmy-winning actress Claire Danes in both an acting and executive producer role. Danes is well-known for her work in The Beast In Me and Homeland.

Created by Sarah Treem, who has a notable background in series like The Affair and House of Cards, Lovesick will also have Treem as showrunner. The series is based on the acclaimed 2024 Israeli series of the same name, originally titled The Best Worst Thing (Choley Ahava), which was developed by Rona Tamir, Tal Granit, and Sharon Maymon for Israeli broadcaster Keshet 12. Production will be handled by Universal Television, part of Universal Studio Group, and Keshet Studios, the U.S. operating arm of Keshet International.

Described as a sweeping romantic epic, Lovesick chronicles the complex relationship between two individuals whose lives converge unexpectedly. Annika, portrayed by Danes, is a prominent breast cancer surgeon who has just received a diagnosis of her own. Her new patient, Nate, is an ambitious politician. The narrative delves deeply into themes of love, illness, family, and the search for meaning amidst challenging circumstances, all while Annika undergoes breast cancer treatment.

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Treem and Danes are joined in executive production by Keshet’s Avi Nir, known for Homeland and Our Boys, Keren Shahar of Unconditional and Total Control, along with former Keshet Studios President Peter Traugott, whose credits include Echo 3 and La Brea. This initiative is part of a long-standing collaboration between Keshet Studios and Universal Television, which had previously established a series of first-look agreements. Currently, the company is also pursuing projects for Sony Pictures Television under a freshly signed first-look deal with Keshet International.

“I’m thrilled to get to tell this story with the genius, Claire Danes. We’ve been looking for something to do together for a very long time, and this character, Annika, is perhaps a mix of both of our wildest dreams,” Treem expressed. “To share a story about all the things keeping me up at night anyway—life, death, children, love, middle age, courage, science, and faith—is an extraordinary opportunity that I don’t take lightly in these turbulent times. We’re very grateful to Netflix for this significant commitment and we cannot wait to get going.”

This announcement highlights Netflix’s aggressive expansion strategy, as the streaming service has recently added several high-profile projects to its slate, many secured through straight-to-series orders. Notable upcoming titles include Rabbit, Rabbit starring Adam Driver, The Corrections featuring Meryl Streep, and other shows like So Far Gone, Black Hole, and Trigger Point starring Joel Edgerton.

At Netflix, Universal Television is also developing comedy series A Man On the Inside and Four Seasons.

Danes recently starred alongside Matthew Rhys in the Netflix limited series The Beast In Me, a performance that earned her a seventh Golden Globe nomination and an 11th Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. The actress boasts three Emmy Awards and three Golden Globes, with accolades for her performances in Temple Grandin and Homeland, along with a Golden Globe for her breakthrough role in My So-Called Life. Danes has previously collaborated with Keshet on Homeland, which was also based on an Israeli format.

Treem serves as executive producer and showrunner for the upcoming FX limited series Cry Wolf, inspired by the Danish format Ulven Kommer, starring Olivia Colman and Brie Larson. Treem is also recognized for creating and overseeing The Affair, which earned a Golden Globe for Best Drama Series during its five-season run. Her extensive resume includes roles as a writer-producer on Netflix’s House Of Cards and HBO’s original series In Treatment.